Kathleen Hanna of the band The Julie Ruin, formerly of Bikini Kill, emcees an afternoon of comedy sets headlined by Hari Kondabolu, featuring Negin Farsad and Leighann Lord, followed by a conversation focused on the power of humor to confront stereotypes and engage audiences around uncomfortable topics.

Negin Farsad — Named one of 2015’s Funniest Women by Huffington Post and one of 10 Best Feminist Comics by Paper Magazine, Negin Farsad earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts and Government from Cornell University, a Master’s degree in Race Relations at Columbia University, and a second Master’s from Columbia School of International & Public Affairs, with a focus on Urban Management. She worked as a senior policy advisor for the City of New York, eventually leaving for full-time uncertainty in the world of performing and visual arts.

Kathleen Hanna — A New York City-based artist, Hanna best known for her groundbreaking performances as a member of the 90’s punk band, Bikini Kill, and her multimedia group, Le Tigre. The Punk Singer, a documentary about her life, premiered at festivals and saw a nationwide theatrical release. She is currently giving lectures and performing with her new band The Julie Ruin.

Hari Kondabolu — A Brooklyn-based comic who The New York Times has called “one of the most exciting political comics in stand-up today.” He has performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, John Oliver’s New York Standup Show, Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, and at the 2007 HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival.

Leighann Lord — Inspired by the brilliance of George Carlin, the smooth jazz style of Franklyn Ajaye, and the elegance of Rita Rudner, Leighann has crafted her own unique brand of Thinking Cap Comedy. Leighann has performed around the world, and as a comedic commentator, she has pulled pundit duty on VH1, Fox News, and MSNBC giving her informed and funny take on politics, world news and current events. Her popular weekly humor blog, The Urban Erma, is the longest running featured column on StageTimeMag.com and is available as a free podcast on iTunes. Leighann wrote for the pilot of “The Chris Rock Show,” is a contributor to the Huffington Post, and is the author of several books. Her stand-up is frequently heard on XM-Sirius Satellite Radio.